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Topic Review (Newest First)

01-05-2013 06:11 PM

1957willyman

timing

this dang motor has been a mess slowly getting a hold on it just need to find out why its surging at idle from 900-1000 rpms is that cam doing that

01-05-2013 05:12 PM

1957willyman

timing

well i got this engine to idle down to 900 to 1000 but surging alittle sometimes it will die sometimes keeps running tweaked on timing tweaked on carb but still have 22-24 degrees timing at idle with vacumn advance dis connected what do i need to do next

01-05-2013 10:24 AM

cobalt327

To lock the mechanical advance you remove a roll pin and turn the shaft 180 degrees and reinstall it w/the limiter pin (remove the bushing) in a hole instead of the advance slot. It's all in the instructions.

01-05-2013 09:27 AM

1957willyman

fiming

what if itake the weights and springs out try to lock the assembly from working atall

01-05-2013 02:53 AM

cobalt327

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1957willyman

if i need to change springs in distributor do i need to go a stronger spring? do i need to change bushing and weights to? or do i need to limit travel of weights

The bushings are the things that control how much mechanical advance there is. The stock bushings only go to 18 degrees- if you need less mechanical advance- which you will- you need to either make or buy bushings that will limit the mechanical advance more, or use some other method to control how much mechanical advance the distributor supplies.

The stiffer spring will keep the advance from starting so early, but you still need to get control of your idle before getting into the mechanical advance.

You can use a vacuum advance, no problem. Connect it to a ported vacuum source and limit the amount of vacuum advance to about 10 degrees.

01-05-2013 12:54 AM

cdminter59

Timing

Why do you have the idle set to 1200 rpms? I have a Crower mechanical roller cam 641/636 lift and 256/266 duration at .050. I have Edelbrock Performer RPM heads #60559 with 315cc intake runners. My carburetor is a Holley 850 DP. My distributor is a MSD Pro-Billet 85561. I have my idle set at 900 rpms. My initial is 12* btdc and the total is 37*. Looking at that Streetfire distributor and the MSD 8428 advance kit they recommend there is really no easy way to set up the mechanical advance. Even when using a medium spring the advance curve will start with 8* @ 1000 rpms. The advance curve will be at 20* @ 3500 rpms and you will have to use a stop at this point. Even then you are looking at 16* initial 20* mechanical advance. You will have to use the vacuum advance stop provided with the distributor also set at 11*-14*. Try backing off the curb idle screw on your carburetor to see what the lowest rpm is. I don't want to piss you off but IMO that distributor is junk. It is to be used with a completely bone stock engine. A GM HEI is easier to setup for a performance camshaft.

01-05-2013 12:50 AM

cobalt327

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1957willyman

if i need to change springs in distributor do i need to go a stronger spring? do i need to change bushing and weights to? or do i need to limit travel of weights

Your question was answered at post #2, is there something you do not understand in the linked-to info?

01-04-2013 08:29 PM

1957willyman

timing

if i need to change springs in distributor do i need to go a stronger spring? do i need to change bushing and weights to? or do i need to limit travel of weights

01-04-2013 07:03 PM

MouseFink

The 23 degrees you are seeing is not initial timing. The way you have it now is the initial timing advance is 14 degrees (7 degrees on the crank x 2) with an additional 9 degrees of centrifugal advance by 1200 RPM and an additional 17 degrees of centrifugal advance by 2000 RPM for a total timing advance of 40 degrees.

It seems to me the centrifugal timing advance needs to be limited 5 degrees with bushings under the weight plate (or however MSD does it) and the initial advance raised from 7 degrees to 12 degrees on the crank. About the only way you can set the initial advance if the engine will not idle below 1200 RPM is by increasing the initial advance until the engine is difficult to start and then back it down.. Initial timing 12 degrees "on the crank" (12 x 2 ) = 24 degrees initial advance + 12 degrees centrifugal advance = 36 degrees total advance. After the initial advance is increased to 12 degrees on the crank, you must readjust the engine idle to 1200 RPM.

You cannot observe the initial timing advance with a timing light when the engine is idling at 1200 RPM.

01-04-2013 06:00 PM

1957willyman

timing

give me some ideas or things to look for as far as having a flat cam some times it will fire up and idlejust fine sometimes it want i think its something to do with timing but iam kinda new at this stuff so iam learning by listening to you guys and whoever how can i check for a flat cam

01-04-2013 05:43 PM

1957willyman

timing

yes it is a comp hydraulic flat tappet cam i dont think its the cam something in the distributor

how can i prevent my initial timing and centrifugal timing coming in at sametime my engine idles about 1200 rpms has about 23 degrees timing msd distributor with whatever springs and weights came in it

I think a lot more info is needed. Complete parts list of the engine would be nice.

01-04-2013 12:39 PM

MouseFink

This is a old problem with engines that have been equipped with radical camshafts. Those type camshafts have long valve duration, high valve overlap, the engine has low manifold vacuum and sometimes will not idle below 900 RPM. The mechanical advance mechanism starts advancing the timing at 900 and is fully advanced by 1100 RPM. The timing advance on engines equipped with radical camshafts should be checked after the mechanical (centrifugal) advance mechanism is fully engaged , meaning at 2000 RPM .

Engines equipped with radical camshafts do not need or use a vacuum advance and require the mechanical timing advance checked at 2000 RPM or more with the total timing advance from 35 - 40 degrees. The RATE of the timing advance can be tailored by changing the advance springs and weights or you can install an electronic ignition system that is designed for engines with radical camshafts.

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